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A Book I Have Read Report

Name:

David Chen

Name of the book:

Hansel and Gretel

Author's name:

Brothers Grimm

Date started / Date complete:

September 28, 2025

The story is about:

A brave brother and sister who get lost in the woods and must use their wits to escape from a wicked witch. The main idea is that cleverness and courage can help you overcome any obstacle.

Some interesting words/expressions were:

"great famine," "shiny white pebbles," "trail of breadcrumbs," "wicked witch."

The part I enjoyed most was:

When Gretel tricked the witch into getting into the oven. It was a clever and brave moment that showed how smart she was, and it was exciting because she saved herself and her brother from a terrible situation.

The main character(s) was/were:

1. Hansel, who is a clever and protective older brother.

2. Gretel, who is a resourceful and brave younger sister.

3. The Witch, who is a cruel and cannibalistic villain.

The character I liked best was:

Gretel.

I liked this character because:

At first she seemed scared, but in the end, she was the one who saved them. She was clever enough to trick the witch, which shows that you can be both afraid and brave at the same time.

I would recommend this story because:

It's a classic fairy tale full of suspense and adventure. It teaches a good lesson about being resourceful and brave, and shows how two clever children can defeat a powerful enemy together.

The Story: "Hansel and Gretel"

Once upon a time, deep in a forest, lived a poor woodcutter with his two children, Hansel and Gretel, and their stepmother. A great famine fell upon the land, and one night, the stepmother convinced the father to leave the children in the woods because they could no longer feed them. Hansel overheard and collected shiny white pebbles, which he dropped as a trail to lead them safely back home the next day.

Soon, the food ran out again. The stepmother locked the doors so Hansel couldn't get more pebbles. The next time they were led into the woods, Hansel could only leave a trail of breadcrumbs. But the birds of the forest ate every crumb, and this time, the children were truly lost. After wandering for three days, they followed a beautiful white bird to a clearing where they discovered a cottage made of gingerbread, cake, and candy. Starving, they began to eat pieces of the house.

Suddenly, the door opened and a very old woman came out. She seemed kind, inviting them inside for a warm meal and soft beds. But she was secretly a wicked witch who built the house to trap children. The next morning, she locked Hansel in a cage to fatten him up and forced Gretel to be her slave. Weeks passed, until the witch grew impatient and decided to cook them both. She ordered Gretel to check the heat of the oven, planning to push her in. But Gretel cleverly said she didn't know how. When the witch leaned in to show her, Gretel shoved her into the oven and slammed the door shut. The children took the witch's jewels and, with the help of a white duck, found their way back to their father, whose cruel wife had since died. They lived happily ever after, never knowing hunger again.

Story Analysis

Paragraph 1: Introduction (Characters, Setting, Main Idea)

The classic fairy tale "Hansel and Gretel" tells the story of a brave brother and sister named Hansel and Gretel. The story is set in a dark forest during a famine and at a magical gingerbread cottage that hides a dangerous secret. The main idea of the story is that even when faced with terrible danger, cleverness, courage, and loyalty to family can help you overcome any obstacle.

Paragraph 2: The Problem

Hansel and Gretel face two major problems. First, they are abandoned in the forest by their parents because there is not enough food to eat, leaving them lost and hungry. Their second, more dangerous problem begins when they discover a gingerbread house and are captured by the wicked witch who lives there. The witch locks Hansel in a cage with the plan to eat him, forcing Gretel to help her, and it seems they have no way to escape.

Paragraph 3: Solution and Recommendation

The problem is solved by Gretel's quick and clever thinking. When the witch tells her to check the oven, Gretel tricks the witch into looking inside and then shoves her in, saving both herself and her brother. After escaping with the witch's treasure, they find their way home to their father. I would recommend this timeless story to readers who enjoy fairy tales with suspense and adventure, as it shows how two clever children can defeat a powerful enemy.